Posted by:
chrish
at Mon Dec 1 10:33:47 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by chrish ]
Snakes have a musk gland at the base of their tail. This gland produces a foul smelling oily secretion that they can exude if they are disturbed. They often release the musk and smear it on you/themselves. The smell of the musk varies from species to species but it is intended to discourage predators.
Some species are very quick to musk, others aren't. And some snake musk is only slightly noticeable while other species can really gag you. Some of the species which musk the most have relatively inoffensive secretions while others rarely musk but can make you want to lose your lunch.
Some of the most frequent muskers (among N. American snakes)
- Gartersnakes
- Watersnakes
- Ratsnakes
but some of the worst smelling N. American snake musk comes from
- Blind Snakes (Leptotyphlops sp.) (believe it or not!)
- Copperheads/Cottonmouths
- Rattlesnakes
-----
Chris Harrison
...he was beginning to realize he was the creature of a god that appreciated the discomfort of his worshippers - W. Somerset Maugham
[ Hide Replies ]
- Musk - Tigergenesis, Mon Dec 1 05:49:25 2003
 RE: Musk - chrish, Mon Dec 1 10:33:47 2003- RE: Musk - Zoso, Mon Dec 1 20:35:18 2003
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